Defence closes in stabbing trial

CALGARY — The lawyers for a teen girl charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of University of Calgary student Brett Wiese told a judge they will not call any more evidence on behalf of their client.

Ian McNish said he and Janna Watts discussed the issue with their client over the weekend and opted not to call an expert witness that had been planned. They then closed their case.

The accused, who cannot be named because she was only 17 at the time, spent most of Thursday and Friday on the witness stand in her own defence.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Charlene Anderson gave the defence until Wednesday morning to prepare for final arguments. Crown prosecutor Carla MacPhail would then make her final argument in the case on Thursday.

The accused, now 18, is charged with stabbing Wiese, 21, when she returned to a Calgary house party about three hours after she and four other girls were evicted from the party early on Jan. 12, 2013.

Although she admitted arming herself with a knife after being told to leave the party, the girl denied she had any plan to cause anyone any harm, saying the weapon was only for protection.

She is also charged with the aggravated assault of Colton Lewis, 21, who was stabbed at the party.

Mitchell Harkes, a friend of the accused, is also charged with seconddegree murder and aggravated assault. He faces a separate trial tentatively set for October.